Technology-Based Prehabilitation for Patients With Cancer Before Elective Treatment: Protocol for a Scoping Review

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BACKGROUND Introduction: Advances in cancer treatment have improved survival rates, however, patients continue to experience significant treatment-related side effects, leading to reduced quality-of-life. Prehabilitation is an intervention that occurs before treatment and can improve patients’ functional capacity, recovery, and wellbeing through exercise, dietary, and psychological support. Typical hospital-based prehabilitation is not accessible to all patients due to geographical, socioeconomic, and time-related barriers. Technology-based approaches, including eHealth and mHealth interventions, may overcome these barriers by enabling remote, patient-centred delivery. However, the current evidence base is heterogeneous and lacks synthesis regarding feasibility, acceptability, outcomes, and equity. OBJECTIVE Objective: This protocol for a scoping review aims to outline how we will systematically map and synthesise the evidence on technology-based prehabilitation interventions for people with cancer, to identify intervention designs, assess feasibility and accessibility, and highlight knowledge gaps to guide future research and practice. METHODS Inclusion criteria: In the proposed scoping review, eligible studies will include adults (≥18 years) with a cancer diagnosis who are scheduled for elective treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or hormone therapy). Interventions must involve eHealth or mHealth approaches supporting unimodal or multimodal prehabilitation activities such as exercise, nutrition, psychological support, or lifestyle modification. Outcomes of interest include functional fitness, quality of life, psychological wellbeing, treatment preparedness, recovery, adherence, and feasibility. Method: The review will follow JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A three-step search strategy will be applied across multiple databases and grey literature sources. Data will be charted and presented in tables, figures, and narrative synthesis. Critical appraisal using JBI tools will contextualise methodological quality but not exclude studies. RESULTS N/A CONCLUSIONS N/A CLINICALTRIAL https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/VNWA7